Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #009 |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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Who Can Lead God's Sheep?
by Lynn Anderson,in WINESKINS for March '97
THEY SMELL LIKE SHEEP, says Lynn Anderson
edited by Ray Downen. With an added comment by G. Parker Rossman.
One Sunday a friend cornered me after I had preached a sermon on "Elders As Shepherds."
He suggested that few were acquainted with either those woolly animals called sheep or with the people who care for them day by day.
Admittedly, the shepherd metaphor does sound strange in today's cyberworld. But God keeps sending me back to the pasture. The shepherd notion is not original with me, of course, nor with Paul and Peter; nor even with Jesus.
The shepherd motif walks through the entire long story of God's people -- showing up more than 500 times in the Bible. Without question, this is a lesson God intended for His people to learn when considering how the people of God were to be led and fed....
What is a shepherd, anyway? In Bible times, and in Bible lands, shepherds were as familiar as are automobiles, planes, telephone, fax, and e-mail in modern U.S. society. But, in those days, sheep were not crowded into feedlots. They weren't tracked by computers or fed with automated feeders.
Shepherds then did not get their jobs by answering "Help Wanted on Bethlehem-area sheep ranch" ads at the employment office. Shepherding was no part-time, fair-weather affair. In olden days, the shepherds actually lived a sheep's lifetime in the pasture with the flock.
When a tiny lamb was born into his wilderness world, among the first sensations felt by that shivering lamb was the tender touch of the shepherd. After the shepherd's gentle voice helped awaken the lamb's delicate eardrums (isn't this poetic???), the shepherd protected that lamb, talked to it, caressed it, and led his flock to the fresh pools and luxuriant pastures where they would be able to graze and pleasure themselves. Shepherds protected the sheep from predators, watching over them carefully with love and concern.
By the time lambs reached "ewe-hood" or "ram-hood" (maturity) sheep in good shepherds' flocks completely relied on their loving, good shepherd. They were confident to follow HIS voice and no other. That's how flocks were formed all through the years.
And that's how SPIRITUAL flocks are formed as well. People naturally gather around a loving, serving Christian who nourishes their faith, guides them, protects them, and affirms them with affectionate touch and loving word. So, what's a shepherd? Grab your pencil and circle this profound answer: A shepherd is someone who has a flock!
And that's all the sample you get. But the article continues with equal poetry and point. Shepherds are ones who are selected by "sheep" as their leaders. This introduction makes the profound point that shepherds can't help but BE shepherds. We make a bad mistake when we appoint someone to be a shepherd and think he'll learn how to be one by serving in the "office." The ones who should be selected by any congregation are the ones who already HAVE a flock, says Lynn Anderson. I think he's made a good point.
by Jim Dillinger about "Smelly Sheep."From: Jim Dillinger <jimdil@townsquare.net>
Book Review: They Smell Like Sheep - Lynn AndersonI will first admit that I haven't quite finished the book. I read bits and pieces as I have time. With that said I will give you my initial reaction to this book.
Maybe it hits me stronger because I fully believe our Shepherds as a whole are not shepherding and so we ministers become "pastors" in more than a title. Mr. Anderson recognizes this reality and challenges Elders to change. Yet he also puts forth the argument that we all are shepherds to someone and need to learn to be a part of their lives.
The book is broken into several small chapters in two major sections. The first section is looking at shepherding and how to smell like sheep. This part is good for anyone in spiritual leadership. He discusses what shepherds are, and then how to become mentors and equippers.
The second section deals more specifically with elders. That is where I have gotten to in the book, so I can't tell you much more about it. I have truly enjoyed this book so far and will probably buy it for our elders to read, and I'll recommend they give a copy to men they hope will become elders some day.
They Smell Like Sheep by Lynn Anderson
Howard publishing Co 1997
A Comment -- Date sent: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 07:05:20 -0600 (CST)
From: "G. Parker Rossman" <grossman@mail.coin.missouri.edu>Subject: Re: Viewpoint Study #9 + 92
Thanks for the commentary on shepherds. Does it say something about our society that I cannot think of a good contemporary replacement for the figure of the shepherd. (nurse?)
On shepherds. Once in India I met two bishops. One rushed around in his car and used office technology to send out messages. The other walked the dusty roads, staff in hand, as a Jesus figure, stopping to talk to everyone he met, dropping in homes, encouraging church leaders, sharing ideas from town to town. I said to myself I could accept that kind of bishop myself (or even perhaps a pope who was that kind of figure.)
I asked why First Christian in Worcester MA, had declined from a thousand members. I was told that the pastor who built the church up rarely used his car. He walked, stopping to talk to people at every house within a few miles of the church. He helped with problems he found at many such homes (dad upstairs drunk, not going to work; a teenager who had not come home last night) for people of various denominations. He knew every kid on the street and invited them to things. So when he retired and new auto-bound pastors came the tie with the people of the area was lost. They sat in their offices and sent out mailings....and kindly offered to be a shepherd to anyone who came to the church office.
Did Jesus say "come" or "go into the world"?
Parker Rossman grossman@mail.coin.missouri.edu
3 Lemmon Drive author, EMERGING WORLDWIDE ELECTRONIC
Columbia MO 65201 UNIVERSITY (Praeger, 1993)home page: http://www.trib.net/~prossman
Brief Bible Study #9 from Ray Downen. To go back to
Viewpoint's first page, click < here. Or read additional comments. Or here to go on to Viewpoint Study 10.
For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.